Joe Flacco, the 38-year-old quarterback who signed with Cleveland less than two weeks ago, will start for the Browns on Sunday at the Los Angeles Rams. The Browns (7-4) announced Friday that rookie starter Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been ruled out against the Rams (5-6) as he continues through the concussion protocol. He has not practiced this week, and Flacco has taken the majority of first-team reps as the team practiced at UCLA. Flacco was 1-8 in nine starts with the New York Jets over the past three seasons. He threw for 1,051 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions in five games (four starts) last season. Flacco was unsigned since tahe end of the 2022 season until the Browns rang after starter Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury.
Then Thompson-Robinson exited late in the third quarter of last week’s loss to the host Denver Browns with a concussion and was replaced by P.J. Walker. Flacco will start Sunday and Walker will be his backup. “I love playing this game, and any time an opportunity kind of presents itself, you just got to be patient and see what’s in store for you,” Flacco said on Thursday. Flacco has amassed 42,320 yards through the air with 232 touchdowns and 147 interceptions for the Baltimore Ravens (2008-18), Denver Broncos (2019) and Jets (2020-22).
Flacco led Baltimore to a Super Bowl in 2013 and was named MVP as the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31. In other news Friday, the Browns ruled out wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (concussion) and cornerback Denzel Ward (shoulder). Neither practiced this week, and Ward was out in Week 12 with the injury. Goodwin last played Nov. 5. Cleveland center Nick Harris (knee) was limited at practice Thursday and is questionable for the game.
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